Preview: Cerro Coso Coyotes at Copper Mountain Fighting Cacti

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Calif. (Interstat) — The Copper Mountain Fighting Cacti will look to solidify their winning season record when they host the struggling Cerro Coso Coyotes in a California community college men’s basketball game Wednesday.

The matchup is a rematch from Jan. 3, when Copper Mountain (14-8) earned a 60-51 road victory over Cerro Coso (5-15). The Fighting Cacti have since maintained a position above .500, though they are coming off a lopsided 82-52 home loss to San Bernardino Valley on Saturday. Prior to that, they had won three of their previous four games.

Copper Mountain will rely on forward Amarion Wallace, who has posted strong double-double performances recently. He recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds in a narrow loss to Mount San Jacinto on Jan. 28 and a dominant 18-point, 17-rebound, 7-assist effort in an overtime win at Chaffey on Jan. 14.

Cerro Coso enters on a six-game losing skid, most recently falling 74-66 to Chaffey at home on Saturday. In that game, forward Issiakoi Aminou led the Coyotes with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Aminou has been a consistent contributor, averaging a near double-double of 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds over his last seven contests, including a 17-point, 12-rebound performance at Desert on Jan. 10.

The Coyotes’ offense, which showed life in a 92-84 win over Palo Verde on Jan. 24, has struggled for consistency. They will need scoring support for Aminou from guards like Demarris Day, who dished out eight assists against Chaffey, and Terrance Sims Jr.

For Copper Mountain, rebounding and defense will be focal points after allowing 82 points in their last outing. Their earlier win over Cerro Coso was anchored by holding the Coyotes to 51 points, a formula they will aim to replicate.

The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff at Copper Mountain College. Following this contest, Copper Mountain travels to face Palo Verde on Saturday, while Cerro Coso hosts Desert on Feb. 11.